Retractable syringe

ABSTRACT

A retractable syringe includes a barrel, one end of which comprises a mounting collar. A needle carrier is releasably mounted within the collar, and releasably supports a needle cartridge. A hypodermic needle is mounted within the cartridge. A sheath attaches at one end to the cartridge, and at the other end to the collar. A plunger is telescoped into the barrel, and includes a relatively hard piston sealingly engaging the barrel. The piston includes a latch for engaging the carrier and releasing it from the collar. A pocket in the carrier has a support member in its center, and a pair of helical ribs for threadingly engaging a pair of tabs on the cartridge. The cartridge sealingly receives the support member. The collar has slots and inclined threads in its bore wall for engaging lugs on the carrier. The inclined threads have a friction bump near their blind ends. A retaining pin prevents relative rotation between the carrier and collar prior to desired retraction of the needle into the barrel. Alternative embodiments include a barrel which may be resilient or non-resilient and a hard or soft resilient piston, respectively, having a plunger head secured therewithin and attached to the plunger. A latch is attached to the plunger head, and is received in a recess in the carrier to engage latch stops for rotating the carrier to release it from the collar. Alternative embodiments may include means for securing the plunger in the barrel after retraction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No.592,623 filed Oct. 4, 1990 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,315 by Walter W.Gloyer and Frederick G. Bright, entitled "Improvements in SafetyDisposable Syringe".

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to retractable hypodermicsyringes, and more particularly to a retractable hypodermic syringehaving a needle carrier adapted for releasably attaching a needlecartridge thereto prior to use. The present invention relates further tosuch a hypodermic syringe having means for retarding the unlatching ofthe needle carrier from the mounting collar of the syringe barrel duringinstallation or removal of a needle cartridge, and still further to aninvertible protective cover adapted at one end for sheathing thehypodermic needle prior to use, and at the other end for releasablyattaching to and enclosing, or otherwise closing, a hub of the mountingcollar at an end of the syringe barrel in the absence of a needlecartridge.

In the past, needle stick injuries suffered by medical personnel andothers in the course of using hypodermic syringes have presented aserious problem. Serious diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS may betransmitted by needle stick injuries, resulting in the needlesssuffering, and possibly even in the death, of the unfortunate victims.Of late, the onslaught of AIDS has resulted in needle stick injuriesposing an even greater health hazard because of the virtual certaindeath, at least insofar as research to date indicates, of the injuredperson if he or she contracts the disease.

In order to minimize the risk of needle stick injuries, retractablesyringes have been developed which enable the retraction of the needleinto the barrel of the syringe following use and prior to disposal. Themovement of the needle in the retracted position is typically limitedsuch that normally it will not again protrude from the barrel, andnormally will not again come into contact with a health care worker orother person. Retraction and retention of the possibly contaminatedneedle into the barrel thus protectively isolates the needle and keepsit out of further human contact under normal circumstances. Such aretractable syringe is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,830,issued May 31, 1988, to Walter W. Gloyer and Frederick G. Bright, alsothe inventors herein, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference as if fully recited herein, including the references to andcitations of the state of the art.

At times, persons having a need to use a hypodermic syringe will desireto select a particular size or shape of needle, such as one relativelylonger or shorter than others he or she typically uses, or one having alarger or smaller diameter. Hypodermic needle cartridges have been usedin the past for nonretractable syringes. It would be advantageous if ahealth care worker or other such person could simply select a needlecartridge having a needle of the desired size and shape and easilyinstall it in a commonly configured retractable syringe body. This wouldafford the syringe user the flexibility of meeting his or her particularmedical needs with a variety of needles but only a single inventory ofsyringe bodies, as well as the safety and protection that a retractablesyringe provides against needle stick injuries, while assuringreliability in connection. Since only one configuration of syringe bodyneed be manufactured for use with a virtually unlimited selection ofneedle cartridges, the savings in tooling and manufacturing costs wouldalso be significant. Moreover, the manufacture of a common syringe bodywithout a needle permanently attached would simplify the manufacturingprocess for the retractable syringe, since the hypodermic needle wouldnot have to be installed during manufacture of the syringe body.

One type of hypodermic needle cartridge used in the past is adapted forthreaded engagement in a pocket disposed on the syringe barrel. Thepocket typically has a needle cartridge support member disposed at ornear its center, which is sealingly received in a correlatively shapedbore in the body of the needle cartridge. The body of the needlecartridge in one such prior art cartridge arrangement is provided with apair of diametrically opposed tabs which threadedly engage a pair ofaxially spaced apart helical threads in the pocket on the syringebarrel.

A hypodermic syringe needle typically is provided with a protectivesheath for covering the needle prior to use of the syringe. Withconventional non-retractable syringes, the protective sheath may bereinstalled on the needle following use, but such reinstallation alsoinvolves the inherent risk of a needle stick injury from improper orcareless handling or the like of the needle, the sheath, or both.Sometimes the person attempting to reinstall the sheath may not bephysically able to do so easily, as might be the case, for example, ifthe person were to suffer from arthritis, a nerve disorder, or otherproblem. Moreover, U.S. Center for Disease Control guidelines nowprohibit the recapping of syringes with the needle covers after use.

Following use of a retractable syringe, there is no need to reinstallthe protective sheath, so the risk of a needle stick arising from suchreinstallation is eliminated.

There is another potential disease-causing contamination problem,however, in that the syringe barrel is left open following retraction ofthe needle, thereby permitting any excess fluid or residue left in thesyringe barrel to leak out into the environment. For example, if theexcess fluid or residue were to be a contaminated fluid or residue,there is a risk of the contaminating virus or bacteria contaminatingother medical tools or equipment in the area, possibly infecting personswho subsequently come into contact with such tools or equipment or thesyringe. The needle sheaths typically used in the past for covering theneedles are incapable of being used to enclose the barrels ofretractable syringes following use and retraction of the needles intothe barrels, so as to prevent such leakage and environmentalcontamination. Although sealable containers have been used in the pastinto which used syringes can be placed for disposal, such containers aretypically completely separate items which must be provided along withthe syringes or kept on hand somewhere close at hand. This results inextra labor and materials costs to manufacture such containers, extrashipping costs to supply them to the users, and extra storage andhandling costs on-site.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a retractablesyringe with a common barrel configuration which will reliably accept aneedle cartridge in which is mounted a needle of virtually any desiredsize or shape. It is another object of the present invention to providesuch a retractable syringe with a needle carrier releasably latched intoa mounting collar of the barrel and into which the needle cartridge isinstalled, and means for preventing or retarding unlatching of theneedle carrier from the mounting collar during installation or removalof the needle cartridge.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a retractablesyringe on which a needle cartridge may be securely mounted such thatthe needle is firmly stabilized and supported in the needle carrier, andthe needle carrier is securely latched in the mounting collar until suchtime as unlatching is desired.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a retractablesyringe with a protective cover that will both cover the needle prior touse, and enclose the end of the barrel in which the needle cartridge ismounted either prior to installation of a needle cartridge in order toprevent contamination of the barrel, or following use of the syringe andretraction of the needle in order to prevent leakage of excess fluid orresidue from the barrel.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a syringewhich is durable, reliable, and easy to use. It is still another objectof the present invention to provide such a syringe which is inexpensiveand simple to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, a retractablesyringe includes a barrel, one end of which comprises a needle carriermounting collar. A needle carrier is releasably mounted within themounting collar, and is adapted to releasably support therewithin aneedle cartridge. A hypodermic needle is mounted within the needlecartridge. An invertible locking safety cover is adapted at one end tobe frictionally retained on the needle cartridge, covering the needle,prior to use of the syringe, and at the other end to be positivelylocked to a hub of the mounting collar prior to installation of a needlecartridge into the needle carrier, and after use of the syringe andretraction of the needle into the barrel.

The needle carrier is sealingly mounted within the mounting collar fromwithin the barrel. The needle cartridge is subsequently mounted to theproximal end of the needle carrier from outside the barrel.

A needle cartridge receiving pocket extends axially part way through themain body of the needle carrier from its proximal end. In the center ofthe pocket there is a needle cartridge support member having an axialbore in fluid communication with the interior of the needle carrier. Thepocket has a pair of helical threads around its outer wall, forming apair of lands which are a lure lock type thread upon which a pair oftabs disposed on the distal end of the needle cartridge ride in removingor installing the needle cartridge.

As with the other embodiments described below, the needle cartridgeincludes a main body having the tabs on its upper end adapted to bethreadedly secured into the helically threaded pocket of the needlecarrier. The cartridge has a central axial bore adapted to sealinglyreceive therewithin the needle cartridge support member of the needlecarrier. A hypodermic needle of selected size and shape is mountedwithin the needle cartridge.

The mounting collar has a pair of axially extending slots in its borewall traversed by the lugs on the needle carrier when it is installedinto or removed from the mounting collar. The slots intersect andcommunicate with a pair of inclined threads in the bore wall of themounting collar which extend part way around the bore wall. When thelugs on the needle carrier are inserted into the slots in the mountingcollar and the needle carrier is then rotated in the appropriatedirection, the lugs travel along the inclined threads into a position atthe end of the inclined threads. Rotation of the needle carrier in theopposite direction passes the lugs along the inclined threads back tothe slots for removal of the needle carrier from the mounting collar.

An elongate plunger is telescoped into and carried within the barrel.The plunger includes an injection piston attached at its proximal end,disposed within and sealingly engaging the barrel. The proximal f ace ofthe piston includes a stinger latch at or near its center.

The stinger latch is adapted to engage a seat in the recess of theneedle carrier in such fashion that rotation of the stinger latch alsorotates the needle carrier, and such that withdrawal of the stingerlatch into the barrel also withdraws the needle carrier into the barrel.Rotation of the needle carrier until its lugs traverse the inclinedthreads and are in alignment with the axial slots permits withdrawal ofthe piston back into the barrel, along with the needle carrier, needlecartridge, and needle.

The mounting collar includes a groove around the periphery of its hubportion and adapted to receive an annular land disposed on the largerend of the locking safety cover in order to secure the cover to the hub,enclosing the barrel, when manufactured and prior to installation of aneedle cartridge onto the syringe, and after retraction of the needleinto the barrel.

The upper end of the barrel is provided with latching means for latchingthe plunger in retracted position and securing the needle safety withinthe barrel. The portion of the plunger protruding from the barrel may bebroken off substantially flush with the end of the barrel. (The latchingmeans for this embodiment and the alternative embodiment below may alsobe only the breaking off of the plunger in conjunction with the frictionbetween the barrel and the piston, but depending on tolerances may notbe reliable to hold the needle within the barrel.) The protective covermay then be installed on the mounting collar hub in order to enclose thebarrel. The used syringe may then be safely discarded without furtherdanger of a needle stick injury.

According to one alternative embodiment of the invention, a retractablesyringe includes a resilient barrel, one end of which comprises a needlecarrier mounting collar. A needle carrier is releasably mounted withinthe mounting collar, and is adapted to releasably support therewithin aneedle cartridge. A hypodermic needle is mounted within the needlecartridge. An invertible locking safety cover is adapted at one end tobe frictionally retained on the needle cartridge, covering the needle,prior to use of the syringe, and at the other end to be positivelylocked to a hub of the mounting collar prior to installation of a needlecartridge into the needle carrier, and after use of the syringe andretraction of the needle into the barrel.

The needle carrier is sealingly mounted within the mounting collar fromwithin the barrel, and the needle cartridge is subsequently mounted tothe proximal end of the needle carrier from outside the barrel. Aplurality of radially outwardly extending bayonet lugs are disposed onthe exterior of the needle carrier. A latch recess extends into the bodyof the needle carrier from its distal end for receiving the stingerlatch.

A needle cartridge receiving pocket extends axially part way through themain body of the needle carrier from its proximal end. In the center ofthe pocket there is a needle cartridge support member having an axialbore in fluid communication with the latch recess. The pocket has a pairof helical ribs around its outer wall, forming a pair of lands uponwhich a pair of tabs disposed on the distal end of the needle cartridgeride in removing or installing the needle cartridge.

The needle cartridge includes a main body having the tabs on its upperend adapted to be threadedly secured into the helically threaded pocketof the needle carrier. The cartridge has a central axial bore adapted tosealingly receive therewithin the needle cartridge support member of theneedle carrier. A hypodermic needle of selected size and shape ismounted within the needle cartridge.

The mounting collar has a pair of axially extending slots in its borewall traversed by the lugs on the needle carrier when it is installedinto or removed from the mounting collar. The slots intersect andcommunicate with a pair of inclined threads in the bore wall of themounting collar which extend part way around the bore wall. The inclinedthreads each have a friction rise or bump on their proximal surfacesnear their blind ends. When the lugs on the needle carrier are insertedinto the slots in the mounting collar and the needle carrier is thenrotated in the appropriate direction, the lugs travel along the inclinedthreads into a secure, seated position between the friction rises andthe end walls of the inclined threads. Rotation of the needle carrier inthe opposite direction passes the lugs over the friction rises and alongthe inclined threads back to the slots for removal of the needle carrierfrom the mounting collar.

A retaining pin may be disposed in aligned holes in the needle carrierand the mounting collar when they are fully assembled in order toprevent relative rotation between them prior to desired retraction ofthe needle into the barrel.

An elongate plunger is telescoped into and carried within the barrel.The plunger includes a relatively hard injection piston attached at itsproximal end, disposed within and sealingly engaging the barrel. Theproximal face of the piston includes a stinger latch at or near itscenter.

The stinger latch is adapted to engage a seat in the recess of theneedle carrier in such fashion that upon removal of the retaining pin,rotation of the stinger latch also rotates the needle carrier, and suchthat withdrawal of the stinger latch into the barrel also withdraws theneedle carrier into the barrel. Rotation of the needle carrier until itslugs traverse the inclined threads and are in alignment with the axialslots permits withdrawal of the piston back into the barrel, along withthe needle carrier, needle cartridge, and needle.

The mounting collar includes a groove around the periphery of its hubportion and adapted to receive an annular land disposed on the largerend of the locking safety cover in order to secure the cover to the hub,enclosing the barrel, when manufactured and prior to installation of aneedle cartridge onto the syringe, and after retraction of the needleinto the barrel.

The upper end of the barrel is provided with latching means f orlatching the plunger in retracted position and securing the needlesafely within the barrel. The portion of the plunger protruding from thebarrel may be broken off substantially flush with the end of the barrel.(The latching means for this embodiment and the other embodiments mayalso be only the breaking off of the plunger in conjunction with thefriction between the barrel and the piston, but depending on tolerancesmay not be reliable to hold the needle within the barrel.) Theprotective cover may then be installed on the mounting collar hub inorder to enclose the barrel. The used syringe may then be safelydiscarded without further danger of a needle stick injury.

According to another alternative embodiment of the invention, aninjection piston may be used with a non-flexible barrel. The injectionpiston comprises a soft resilient member having a plunger head securedtherewithin and attached to the plunger. A latch member is attached tothe proximal end of the plunger head, and is adapted to be received in arecess in the needle carrier and to engage latch stops in the recess forrotating the needle carrier to release it from the mounting collar.

A latching flange disposed on the upper end of the plunger head engageshooks disposed on flexible arms attached to the barrel when the plungerhead is fully retracted into the barrel along with the needle carrier,needle cartridge, and needle, thereafter preventing movement of suchmembers in a proximal direction and latching them in safe, secureposition for disposal.

In the preferred and this alternative embodiment, the plunger latch maybe covered by a thin resilient diaphragm, which preferably will followthe latch member.

Otherwise, the second alternative embodiment is substantially identicalto the first alternative embodiment.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the preferred embodimentswhen read in conjunction with reference to the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding at the nature and objects of the presentinvention, in conjunction to this specification, reference should be hadto the following drawings in which like parts are given like referencenumerals and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one alternative embodiment of aretractable syringe according to the present invention, the syringebeing shown in assembled condition and ready for use.

FIG. 2 is a view partly in longitudinal section, partly exploded, andpartly in elevation of the retractable syringe of FIG. 1, showing theneedle cartridge separated from the needle carrier and the protectivecover removed from the needle cartridge, and showing the plunger latchdisposed in the recess in the upper end of the needle carrier.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the mounting collar and needlecarrier of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in exploded relation with the needlecarrier in position to be inserted into the mounting collar.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the assembled mounting collar andneedle carrier of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the assembled mounting collar,needle carrier, and needle cartridge of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the needle cartridge of both the first andsecond alternative embodiments of the invention described herein, takenalong lines 6--6 of FIGS. 2 and 10.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the needle carrier of both the first and secondalternative embodiments of the invention described herein, taken alonglines 7--7 of FIGS. 3 and 11.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1,after use of the syringe and retraction of the needle cartridge andneedle into the syringe barrel.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a second alternative embodiment of aretractable syringe according to the present invention, the syringebeing shown in assembled condition and ready for use.

FIG. 10 is a view partly in longitudinal section, partly exploded, andpartly in elevation of the retractable syringe of FIG. 9, showing theneedle cartridge separated from the needle carrier and the protectivecover removed from the needle cartridge, and showing the plunger latchdisposed in the recess in the upper end of the needle carrier.

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the mounting collar and needlecarrier of the embodiment of FIG. 9 in exploded relation with the needlecarrier in position to be inserted into the mounting collar.

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view of the assembled mounting collarand needle carrier of the embodiment of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view of the assembled mounting collar,needle carrier, and needle cartridge of the embodiment of FIG. 9.

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9,after use of the syringe and retraction of the needle cartridge andneedle into the syringe barrel.

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of aretractable syringe according to the present invention, the syringebeing shown in exploded view with three types of alternate embodimentcaps and without the syringe cartridge as in FIGS. 2 and 10.

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the preferredembodiment of the barrel of the retractable syringe of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is an end view of the barrel of FIG. 16 taken along sectionlines 17--17 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 16 taken along section lines18--18 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a detail view of the proximal end of the barrel of FIG. 16.

FIG. 20 is a detail view of the distal end of the barrel of FIG. 16.

FIG. 21 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the plunger of theretractable syringe of FIG. 15.

FIG. 22 is the distal end view of the plunger of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is the proximal end view of the plunger of FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 21 taken along section lines24--24 of FIG. 21.

FIG. 25 is a detail view of the proximal end of the plunger of FIG. 21.

FIG. 26 is a partial cross-sectional view of the proximal end of FIG. 25taken along section lines 26--26 of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a proximal end view of the preferred embodiment of thediaphragm of the retractable syringe of FIG. 15.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 27 taken along section lines28--28 of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a distal end view of the preferred embodiment of the needlecarrier of the retractable syringe of FIG. 15.

FIG. 30 is a proximal end view of the preferred embodiment of the needlecarrier of the retractable syringe of FIG. 15.

FIG. 31 is a longitudinal cross-section of the needle carrier of FIG. 29taken along section lines 31--31 of FIG. 29.

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view taken along section lines 32--32 ofFIG. 31.

FIG. 33 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the needlecarrier taken along section lines 33--33 of FIG. 32.

FIG. 34 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the needlecarrier taken along section lines 34--34 of FIG. 32.

FIG. 35 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of one option of thealternate embodiments of the cap of the preferred embodiment of theretractable syringe of FIG. 15.

FIG. 36 is a detail view of the proximal end of the cap of FIG. 35.

FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 35 taken along section lines37--37 of FIGS. 35, 38 or 39.

FIG. 38 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a second alternativeembodiment option of the cap of the preferred embodiment of theretractable syringe of FIG. 15.

FIG. 39 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a third alternativeembodiment option of the cap of the preferred embodiment of theretractable syringe of FIG. 15.

FIG. 40 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the preferredembodiment of the cap of the retractable syringe of FIG. 15.

FIG. 41 is an end view of the preferred embodiment of the cap of theretractable syringe of FIG. 15.

FIG. 42 is a view in longitudinal section of the retractable syringe ofFIG. 15, showing the assembly for normal operation.

FIG. 43 is a view in longitudinal section of the retractable syringe ofFIG. 15, showing the assembly retracted.

FIG. 44 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an alternateembodiment of the cap of the retractable syringe of FIG. 15.

FIG. 45 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of another preferredembodiment of the barrel of the retractable syringe of FIG. 15.

FIG. 46 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of another preferred capof the preferred embodiment of the retractable syringe of FIG. 15.

FIG. 47 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a preferred embodimentof the needle holder of the retractable syringe of FIG. 15.

FIGS. 48A, 48B, 49A, 49B are cross-sectional views.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THEINVENTION

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, one alternate embodiment of theretractable syringe of the present invention is shown generally at 10.Syringe 10 includes a resilient barrel 12, the proximal end, that is,the end nearer the point of the needle, of which comprises a needlecarrier support or mounting collar 14. A needle carrier 16, moreparticularly described below and better shown in FIGS. 3-5 and 8, ismounted within needle carrier support or mounting collar 14. Needlecarrier 16 is adapted to support therewithin a needle cartridge is inwhich is mounted a hypodermic needle 20. An invertible locking safetycover 22 is adapted at one end 24 to be frictionally retained on needlecartridge 18, covering needle 20, prior to use of syringe 10, and at theother end 26 to be positively locked to the hub 28 of mounting collar 14prior to installation of a needle cartridge 18 into needle carrier 16,and after use of syringe 10 and retraction of needle 20 into barrel 12,as more particularly described below.

An elongate plunger member 30 is telescoped into and carried within thebarrel 12. Plunger member 30 includes a body portion comprising aplurality of longitudinally extending ribs 32, a thumb rest 34 formed atits distal end, that is, the end farther from the point of the needle,and an injection piston 36 attached at its proximal end, disposed withinbarrel 12. The proximal face of piston 36 includes a longitudinallyextending stinger latch 38 at or near its center.

Plunger 30 including piston 36 may be made of a relatively hard materialsuch as, for example, high density polypropylene or other suitablesynthetic material. The outer circumferential periphery of piston 36 issubstantially smooth and rounded to provide sealing engagement againstthe interior wall of barrel 12. Barrel 12 may be made of a relativelyresilient material such as polyethylene or polypropylene, for example.The same material used for barrel 12 may also be employed for protectivecover or sheath 22. All materials should be of a grade and qualitysuitable for human medical applications.

Piston 36 is of slightly larger diameter than the inside diameter ofbarrel 12 so that in service, the barrel is slightly stretched by thepiston 36 as the piston traverses the barrel in sealing relationshiptherewith. Piston 36 is sized and shaped to serve as a liquid or fluiddisplacement means within barrel 12 for withdrawing a liquid or fluidsubstance from another container, for example, and subsequentlyinjecting the substance through needle 20 into a subject being treated.Of course, syringe 10 may be used for withdrawing liquid or fluidsubstances from a subject for subsequent testing, or for other purposes.In short, the retractable syringe 10 of the present invention may beused in any clinical setting, under any medical conditions.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, needle carrier 16 is mounted within mountingcollar 14 of barrel 12 from within the barrel, and needle cartridge 18is subsequently mounted to the proximal end of needle carrier 16 fromoutside barrel 12. Needle carrier 16 has a generally circular conicalmain body 40 with a slight taper from its distal end 42 to its proximalend 44. A radially outwardly extending circumferential flange 46 isdisposed around body 40 at its distal end 42. A plurality of radiallyoutwardly extending bayonet lugs 48 are disposed on the exterior sidewall of body 40 between flange 46 and proximal end 44. Preferably, thereare two such lugs 48 which are diametrically opposed from one another. Alatch recess 50 extends into body 40 of needle carrier 16 from itsdistal end 42. Latch recess 50 is shaped correlatively to stinger latch38, as is more fully set out below.

A substantially annular blind bore 52, comprising a needle cartridgereceiving pocket, extends longitudinally part way, preferably about halfway, through main body 40 from its proximal end 44. In the center ofpocket 52 there is disposed a needle cartridge support member 54, whichmay be integral, for example, with main body 40. Needle cartridgesupport member 54 extends from the distal end wall 56 of pocket 52beyond the plane of the proximal end face 44 of main body 40, such thata substantial proximal end portion of member 54 protrudes out of themain body 40. Needle cartridge support member 54 is substantiallycircular conical in configuration, and tapers slightly from its distalend at end wall 56 to its proximal end 60. Needle cartridge supportmember 54 has a longitudinally extending central axial bore 62 therein,in fluid communication with latch recess 50. Pocket 52 has a pair ofrelatively steeply pitched, raised, that is, radially inwardlyprojecting, axially spaced apart helical ribs 64 around its outer wall,forming a pair of lands upon which a corresponding pair of tabs disposedon the distal end of the needle cartridge 18 ride in removing orinstalling the needle cartridge, as is more fully set out below. Theribs 64 begin, or intersect the proximal end face of main body 40, ondiametrically opposed sides thereof as is best shown in FIG. 7.

Mounting collar 14 includes a hub portion 28 extending from the proximalend 70 thereof to a relatively thick-walled needle carrier retainingportion 72 of barrel 12, forming an annular shoulder 74 therebetween.The hub portion 28 and needle carrier retaining portion 72 of barrel 12have a substantially circular conical bore 76 therethrough, shapedcorrelatively to the outer profile of main body 40 of needle carrier 16.Between the upper or distal end of bore 76 in needle carrier retainingportion 72 and the interior wall 78 of barrel 12 against which piston 36is sealingly engaged, is disposed a circular counterbore 80. Flange 46of needle carrier 16 is received in counterbore 80 when the needlecarrier 16 is locked in place in mounting collar 14. Flange 46 issomewhat resilient, so that it will sealingly engage counterbore 80 whencarrier 16 is locked into place in collar 14.

Mounting collar 14 has a pair of diametrically opposed, substantiallylongitudinally extending slots 82 in the wall of bore 76, extending in aproximal direction from the interface between bore 76 and counterbore80. Slots 82 intersect and communicate with a pair of inclined recessesor threads 84 in the wall of bore 76 which extend part way, for example901 or less, around the inside wall of bore 76 and are inclined towardthe proximal end 70 of hub portion 28. Threads 84 as shown areright-hand threads, but left-hand threads could be used, as desired.Threads 84 each have a friction rise or bump 86 on their proximalsurfaces near their blind ends. Slots 82 are adapted to receive bayonetlugs 48 on needle carrier 16, and when the needle carrier is so insertedinto collar 14 and rotated in the proper direction, preferably 900 orless, lugs 48 traverse the buttresses of threads 84 until they bottomout at the blind ends of the threads. Due to the inclined nature ofthreads 84, rotation of the needle carrier to the right (for aright-hand thread 84) will tend to draw the needle carrier 16 moretightly into the mounting collar 14, and will tend to energize the sealbetween flange 46 and counterbore 80.

Somewhat more force is required to pass lugs 48 over friction rises orbumps 86 in either direction than is required simply to rotate needlecarrier 16 in collar 14 with the lugs traversing the threads 84 betweenslots 82 and the friction rises or bumps. Accordingly, when the lugs 48are fully seated in the blind ends of threads 84, bounded on one side bythe blind end walls of the threads 84 and on the other side by thefriction rises or bumps 86, the lugs 48 will be relatively securelyseated in the blind ends of threads 84, and the needle carrier 16 willin turn be relatively securely latched into the mounting collar 14.Bumps 86 thus act as anti-rotation means between mounting collar 14 andneedle carrier 16. Bumps 86 may not be necessary, however, if sufficientfrictional forces exist between needle carrier 16 and mounting collar 14to prevent relative rotation between them during installation and/orremoval of a needle cartridge as discussed further below.

FIG. 4 illustrates the needle carrier 16 fully seated and latched intocollar 14. Such installation and latching occurs within barrel 12 as thesyringe 10 is being assembled prior to use. FIG. 4 shows the needlecarrier 16 in the same position depicted in FIG. 3, but the mountingcollar 14 has been rotated, preferably, as stated above, 90° or less. Ascan be seen in FIG. 4, needle carrier 16 has a transversely disposedhole 90 extending through the side wall of main body 40 into pocket 52.Mounting collar 14 has a transversely disposed hole 92 extending throughthe side wall of hub portion 28. Holes 90, 92 are in register with oneanother when the needle carrier 16 is fully latched into the mountingcollar 14. Hole 92 in collar 14 is substantially circular cylindrical inconfiguration, but hole 90 in needle carrier 16 is preferably somewhatelongated in a circumferential direction in order to ensure alignment ofholes 90, 92 in the event needle carrier 16 is not fully seated incollar 14. A retaining pin 94 is disposed in holes 90, 92, andfrictionally secured in hole 92, when needle carrier 16 is fully mountedin collar 14 in order to prevent relative rotation between members 14,16 in service, e.g., prior to and during use of syringe 10 to withdrawand/or inject fluids or liquid substances, and prior to desiredretraction of needle 20 into barrel 12. Pin 94, when in place in holes90, 92, thus serves to prevent needle carrier 16 from being accidentallyor prematurely released or unlatched from collar 14 and retracted intobarrel 12. A tab 96 is provided on the end of pin 94 for an operator tograsp for easy removal of pin 94 when it is desired to retract theneedle carrier 16, and hence the needle 20, into barrel 12 after use ofsyringe 10. It should be understood that retaining pin 94, and thusbores 90, 92, may not be necessary in the event that sufficientfrictional forces exist between needle carrier 16 and mounting collar 14to prevent relative rotation of such members during installation and/orremoval of a needle cartridge.

Mounting collar 14 further includes a circumferentially extending groove98 around the periphery of hub portion 28 and adapted to receive acorrelatively shaped ridge or land 100 disposed on locking safety cover22, as more fully described hereinafter.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2, 5, 6, and 8, the needle cartridge18 of the present invention is shown in more detail. Needle cartridge 18includes an elongate, generally conical, hollow main body 102 whichtapers slightly from its upper or distal end 104 to its lower orproximal end 106. Main body 102 of needle cartridge 18 has a tapered,longitudinally extending, central axial bore 108 which has a tapersubstantially the same as the taper of the outside surface of needlecartridge support member 54, so as to form a close fit therewith wheninstalled on syringe 10. Bore 108 is in fluid communication with bore 62in needle cartridge support member 54. Needle cartridge 18 also includesa substantially circular cylindrical extension portion 110 extending ina proximal direction from proximal end 106 of main body 102. A pluralityof substantially longitudinally extending stiffening ribs 112 aredisposed on main body 102 and extension portion 110 along their outersides, there being preferably four (4) such ribs 112 disposed atsubstantially 90° to one another. Cylindrical extension 110 of needlecartridge 18 has a central axial bore therethrough, which is in fluidcommunication with bore 108 of main body 102. A hypodermic needle 20 ofselected size and shape is mounted within the central axial bore incylindrical extension 110. Needle 20 has a longitudinally extending boretherethrough of selected diameter, which bore is in fluid communicationwith bore 108 and, hence, bore 62 in needle cartridge support member 54.

The upper or distal end 104 of needle cartridge 18 includes a pair ofdiametrically opposed, outwardly extending tabs or ears 114 (FIG. 6).When the distal end 104 of needle cartridge 18 is insertedlongitudinally axially into needle carrier 16 from the proximal endthereof and rotated to the right (for a right hand thread 64; to theleft for a left-hand thread), each of tabs 114 engages and travels alongone of the helical threads 64, which draws needle cartridge 18 ontoneedle cartridge support member 54 and forces the needle cartridge intosecure, stable, sealed relationship with the needle cartridge supportmember. The tight frictional engagement of tabs 114 against the walls ofpocket 52 provides additional lateral stability and support for needlecartridge 18 when mounted in needle carrier 16. When needle cartridge 18is rotated or screwed into locked position in needle carrier 16,anti-rotation pin 94 prevents needle carrier 16 from rotating inmounting collar 14 and becoming unlatched therefrom. In order to removeneedle cartridge 18 from needle carrier 16, for example, to replace itwith a different shaped or sized needle, as desired, the needlecartridge is rotated to the left (for a right-hand thread 64; to theright for a left-hand thread), and tabs 114 travel along threads 64until they are released therefrom at or near proximal end 44 of mainbody 40. Again, anti-rotation pin 94 prevents relative rotation betweenmembers 14, 16 when removing needle cartridge 18 from needle carrier 16.It should be understood, however, that depending upon whether threads64, 84 are right-hand, left-hand or one of each, either the removal ofneedle cartridge 18 from needle carrier 16 or the installation of needlecartridge 18 onto needle carrier 16, will tend to rotate the members 14,16 with respect to one another in a direction so as to further engagelugs 48 into threads 84.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2, 5, and 8, stinger latch 38 ofpiston 36 has a main body 39 of generally conical configuration with aretaining lip 116 around its upper periphery. Stinger latch 38 alsoincludes a pair of rotational lugs 118 extending longitudinally axiallyfrom below lip 116 to the proximal end or apex of main body 39.Rotational lugs 118 are disposed on diametrically opposed sides ofstinger latch 38. Stinger latch 38 is adapted to stretch an innershoulder 120 of the resilient flange 46 and to descend into recess 50formed in the distal end of needle carrier 16 when plunger 30 isadvanced to the proximal end of its stroke. Stinger latch 38 is thusstabbed into engagement with a tapered latch seat 122 in recess 50.Recess 50 has correlatively shaped grooves 124 extending longitudinallyaxially on opposite sides of latch seat 122 for receiving rotationallugs 118. When stinger latch 38 is pushed into the recess 50 of needlecarrier 16 in substantially random angular orientation with respectthereto, latch 38 may be rotated slightly one way or the other in orderto bring lugs 118 into engagement with grooves 124 of recess 50. Whenlugs 118 have so engaged grooves 124, further rotation of plunger member30 will rotate piston 36, stinger latch 38, needle carrier 16, needlecartridge 18, and needle 20. Rotation of needle carrier 16 in mountingcollar 14 will be prevented, however, if retaining pin 94 remains inaligned bores 90, 92. Rotation of needle carrier 16 in mounting collar14 will be further retarded by friction bumps 86 following removal ofpin 94.

When retaining pin 94 is removed from bores 90, 92, further rotation ofthe plunger member 30 and injection piston 36 in the appropriatedirection also rotates the needle carrier 16 and its lugs 48 along thethreads 84 until the lugs are in alignment with slots 82, whereuponwithdrawal of the piston 36 back into the barrel 12 also withdraws theneedle carrier 16, needle cartridge 18, and needle 20 as a unit backinto the barrel 12, eliminating the possibility of a needle stickinjury. The upper or distal end of barrel 12 has an annular area or land130 of reduced inside diameter. An annular latching groove 132 is formedin land 130 near its proximal end, adjacent to an annular latching rib134 disposed proximally of latching groove 132. The latching groove 132is of about the same inside diameter as the barrel 12 below land 130.Like land 130, the annular latching rib 134 has an inside diametersmaller than the inside diameter of barrel 12 below land 130; the insidediameter of rib 134 may, for example, be about the same as land 130.When piston 36 is withdrawn into barrel 12 in order to retract needle 20into the barrel, and as the piston is pulled against the rib 134, therib will stretch and permit the rounded edge of the piston to pass overit into seated position in latching groove 132. Since the thickness ofrib 134 is greater than that of the wall of barrel 12 below the rib,considerably greater force is required to stretch the rib outwardly thanis required to stretch the barrel wall. Accordingly, somewhat greaterforce is required to pull the piston 36 over the rib 134 than isrequired to withdraw the piston through the barrel. Once seated inlatching groove 132, piston 36 is substantially resistant to movement ineither direction. Although it is preferred to provide rib 134 and groove132 to hold piston 36 in retracted position within barrel 12, the riband groove may be omitted, and the frictional force due to the stretchof land 130 around piston 36 relied upon instead to hold the piston inplace. Further, all of the rib, groove, and land may be omitted, becausewith the breaking off of the plunger, infra, the friction of the barrelagainst the piston may be sufficient to latch the needle in retractedposition in the barrel.

Plunger member 30 is provided with perforations 136 in ribs 32 at alocation such as to be substantially flush with the distal end of barrel12 when piston 36 is seated in groove 132. Lateral force may then beapplied to the distal end of plunger 30 to break off the plunger at theperforations 136, leaving the remainder of the plunger disposed insidebarrel 12 with its distal end substantially flush with the distal end ofthe barrel 12. FIG. 8 illustrates the plunger being broken off in thismanner. The syringe 10 is delivered to the person who will use it eitherin the assembled configuration shown in FIG. 1, or in a similarconfiguration but without a needle cartridge and needle mounted thereon.If the syringe 10 is delivered in the assembled configuration shown inFIG. 1, the operator may proceed to use it as is, or he or she maychoose to remove the needle cartridge and needle supplied with theparticular syringe and replace it with another needle cartridge andneedle. Such a situation might arise, for example, if the operatorwishes to use a needle of a different shape, such as longer or shorter,or of a different size, such as with a larger or smaller diameter and/orbore. If the operator wishes to replace the needle cartridge and needle,he or she grasps the needle cartridge firmly around the main body 102and ribs 112 and rotates it in the appropriate direction to unscrew thecartridge 18 from the needle carrier pocket 52. Preferably, during thisremoval and replacement procedure a locking safety cover 22 remains onthe needle cartridge being removed and on the needle cartridge beinginstalled in its place. Locking safety covers 22 at this stage of theprocedure will have their smaller ends 24 frictionally retained aroundthe proximal ends of main bodies 102 and ribs 112 of needle cartridges18, with needles 20 being safely received in tapered blind bores 138 ofcovers 22 (FIG. 2). After removing the supplied needle cartridge, theoperator then installs the desired needle cartridge by grasping itfirmly, preferably with its cover 22 in place, inserting its distal endinto pocket 52 with member 54 entering bore 108, and rotating it in theappropriate direction to screw it securely into place as shown, forexample, in FIGS. 5 and 8, so that it is integral.

If the syringe 10 were to be supplied with no needle cartridge 18installed thereon, the operator simply has to install a desired needlecartridge as set out above so that it is integral. In order to ensurethat a syringe 10 supplied without a needle cartridge is notcontaminated prior to the time a needle cartridge is installed, it ispreferred that a locking safety cover 22 be installed on the hub 28 ofmounting collar 14, as shown, for example, in FIG. 8, when the syringe10 is manufactured so as to protectively enclose the barrel. For thispurpose the larger end 26 of cover 22 is provided with an axiallyextending blind bore 140 of a shape correlative to that of hub 28 and adiameter slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the hub, so thatwhen the cover is forced over the hub, the cover will stretch slightlyand sealingly engage the hub. Annular locking ridge or land 100 of cover22 will engage and seat in annular groove 98 around hub 28 in order topositively retain cover 22 on hub 28. A fluid barrier 142 between blindbore 140 and tapering bore 138 of cover 22 prevents fluid communicationbetween the bores.

During the time that a needle cartridge is either removed or installed,i.e., prior to use of the syringe, the retaining pin 94 remains in placein bores 90, 92 in order to prevent needle carrier 16 from rotating inmounting collar 14. When the desired needle cartridge is fully installedand in place in needle carrier 16, syringe 10 is ready for use. Piston36 is free to be moved by plunger 30 from below rib 134 to a positionjust short of latching engagement between stinger latch 38 and needlecarrier 16. The operator may then remove cover 22 from needle cartridge18 and needle 20, and proceed to either draw a liquid or fluid substancefrom a container through needle 20 into barrel 12 and inject it into asubject, or insert the needle 20 into a subject with barrel 12 empty andwithdraw blood or other fluids from the subject for depositing into acontainer for testing or the like.

After the syringe 10 has been used, plunger member 30 is pushed firmlyin a proximal direction until latch 38 of piston 36 is forced intorecess 50 in needle carrier 16, and the plunger is rotated slightly oneway or the other, if necessary, so that lugs 118 of latch 38 seat ingrooves 124 of recess 50. Engagement of latch 38 in recess 50 is shown,for example, in FIG. 2. Pin 94 is then removed from needle carrier 16and hub 28, and the plunger 30 is rotated in the appropriate directionto move lugs 48 along threads 84 into register with slots 82. Since lugs48 will initially be relatively securely seated between friction rises86 and the ends of threads 84 prior to rotation of needle carrier 16,somewhat greater force will be necessary to rotate the lugs over thefriction rises than will be required to continue rotating the lugs overthe remainder of the threads 84 to slots 82.

The plunger head 34 is then pulled in a distal direction to pull needlecarrier 16, needle cartridge 18, and needle 20 into barrel 12 untilpiston 36 travels over rib 134 and seats in groove 132. Whether or notgroove 132 is used, the distal portion of the plunger member 30 isbroken off at perforations 136 and discarded, leaving the broken end ofthe plunger substantially flush with the end of the barrel and if groove132 is used, the remainder of the plunger securely latched within thebarrel 12. The needle cartridge 18 and needle 20 are thus securelyretained and immobilized in protective isolation within the barrel, asshown in FIG. 8. The protective cover 22 may then be installed on thehub 28 of collar 14 as shown in FIG. 8 in order to prevent excess fluidsor residue remaining in the syringe 10 from leaking out of the syringe.The used syringe may then be safely discarded without further danger ofa needle stick injury.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, another alternate embodiment of theretractable syringe of the present invention is shown generally at 210.Syringe 210 includes a barrel 212, which may be non-resilient, theproximal end of which comprises a needle carrier support or mountingcollar 214. A needle carrier 216, more particularly described below andbetter shown in FIGS. 11-13, is mounted within mounting collar 214.Needle carrier 216 is adapted to support therewithin a needle cartridge218 in which is mounted a hypodermic needle 220. An invertible lockingsafety cover 222 is adapted at one end 224 to be frictionally retainedon needle cartridge 218, covering needle 220, prior to use of syringe210, and at the other end 226 to be positively locked to the hub 228 ofmounting collar 214 prior to installation of a needle cartridge 218 intoneedle carrier 216, and after use of syringe 210 and retraction ofneedle 220 into barrel 212, as more particularly described below.

The needle cartridge 218, needle 220, protective cover 222, and mountingcollar 214 of syringe 210 are substantially identical to thecorresponding parts of the syringe 10, i.e, needle cartridge 18, needle20, protective cover 22, and mounting collar 14, and thus will not bedescribed again in detail in connection with the second embodiment.

An elongate plunger member 230 is telescoped into and carried within thebarrel 212. Plunger member 230 includes a body portion comprising aplurality of longitudinally extending ribs 232, a thumb rest 234 formedat its distal end, and an inwardly facing latching flange 235 andplunger head (not shown) attached at its proximal end, disposed withinbarrel 212. The plunger head may be of any suitable shape, such as, forexample, a pair of conical frustums attached end to end at their smallercircular faces and coaxially disposed with respect to the plunger body,and is disposed within and retains thereon an injection piston 236. Aplunger latch 238 (FIGS. 10 and 14) is attached to the plunger head ator near the center of its proximal end. Piston 236 is preferably made ofa soft resilient material such as soft rubber, butyl, latex, or thelike, and is of a shape and size to serve as a liquid or fluid substancedisplacement piston sealed by its elastomer type deformation withinbarrel 212 for the same purposes as piston 36 described above.

Referring now to FIGS. 11-13, needle carrier 216 is mounted withinmounting collar 214 of barrel 212 from within the barrel, and needlecartridge 218 is subsequently mounted to the proximal end of needlecarrier 216 from outside barrel 212. Except for the manner and structurein and by which the needle carrier 216 is engaged by the plunger latch238 to release the needle carrier from the mounting collar 214, needlecarrier 216 is substantially the same as needle carrier 16. For the sakeof clarity and brevity, the manner and structure in and by which theneedle carrier 216 is mounted in and released from collar 214, and theneedle cartridge 218 is mounted in and released from needle carrier 216,will not be described again in detail in connection with the secondembodiment; suffice it to say that these matters are substantiallyidentical to the manner and structure in and by which the needle carrier16 is mounted in and released from collar 14, and the needle cartridge18 is mounted in and released from needle carrier 16.

A latch recess 250 extends into the body 240 of needle carrier 216 fromits distal end 242. Latch recess 250 is a generally rectangular cavityinto which projects a pair of oppositely facing plunger latch stops 252formed in body 240 near the distal extremity of cavity 250 and spacedapart so as to form rotational stops at 1800 from one another. Anopening 254 in the distal end of needle carrier 216, smaller than cavity250, communicates cavity 250 with the distal end surface of body 240 andforms a shoulder 255 therebetween. A circular counterbore 280 ofmounting collar 214 sealingly receives an annular resilient flange 246of needle carrier 216 when the needle carrier 216 is locked in place inmounting collar 214.

FIG. 12 illustrates the needle carrier 216 fully seated and latched intocollar 214. Such installation and latching occurs within barrel 212 asthe syringe 210 is being assembled prior to use. FIG. 12 shows theneedle carrier 216 in the same position depicted in FIG. 11, but themounting collar 214 has been rotated, preferably 900 or less. As can beseen in FIG. 12, a retaining pin 294 is disposed in aligned holes 290,292 in needle carrier 216 and collar 214, respectively, and isfrictionally secured in hole 292, when needle carrier 216 is fullymounted in collar 214 in order to prevent relative rotation betweenmembers 214, 216 in service, e.g., prior to and during use of syringe210 to withdraw and/or inject fluids or liquid substances, and prior todesired retraction of needle 220 into barrel 212. Pin 294 issubstantially identical to pin 94, and when in place in holes 290, 292,thus serves to prevent needle carrier 216 from being accidentally orprematurely released or unlatched from collar 214 and retracted intobarrel 212. A tab 296 is provided on the end of pin 294 for an operatorto grasp for easy removal of pin 294 when it is desired to retract theneedle carrier 216, and hence the needle 220, into barrel 212 after useof syringe 210. As in the case of the first embodiment described above,pin 294 may not be necessary if sufficient antirotational forces existbetween needle carrier 216 and mounting collar 214 when assembled.

Mounting collar 214 further includes a circumferentially extendinggroove 298 around the periphery of hub portion 228 of collar 214 andadapted to receive a correlatively shaped ridge or land 299 disposed onlocking safety cover 222, as more fully described hereinafter.

The proximal end of piston 236 may be formed as a thin diaphragm 240(FIG. 9) which covers the plunger latch 238 in sealed relation duringthe time the piston is used to draw liquids or fluid substances intobarrel 212 or to force such liquids or fluid substances out of barrel212, as discussed above with respect to the first embodiment of thepresent invention. Alternatively, the piston 236 may be made with theneck of the plunger latch 238 protruding from the proximal end of thepiston at all times. If the diaphragm 240 is present, the plunger latch238 is pushed to stretch and distend the diaphragm into recess 250formed in needle carrier 216, and the plunger member 230 is rotated torotate the plunger latch 238 into engagement with plunger latch stops252. Diaphragm 240 may be ruptured at times. If diaphragm 240 is notpresent, plunger latch 238 is simply pushed into recess 250 and rotatedinto engagement with plunger latch stops 252. Further rotation of theplunger head and latch 238 also rotates the needle carrier 216 and itslugs 248 along the threads 256 until the lugs are in alignment withslots 258, whereupon withdrawal of the plunger head back into the barrel212 also withdraws the needle carrier 216 and needle cartridge 218 alongwith needle 220 as a unit back into the barrel, eliminating thepossibility of a needle stick injury. As the plunger 230 is pulled awayfrom the distal end of the barrel 212, the plunger head and the piston236 are also pulled along as a connected unit.

Latch flange 235 comprises a body of generally hollow circularcylindrical side wall configuration with a radially inwardly extending,downwardly and inwardly tapering, annular frustoconical latch flange 260disposed around its upper inner periphery. The upper end of barrel 212is provided with recessed pockets 262 which accommodate at least twolatch hooks 264 carried on latch arms 266 (FIG. 10). Piston 236 isinserted into the barrel 212 as the syringe 210 is assembled. Latch arms266 carry the latch hooks 264 out into a position where the latch flange260 will flex the arms 266 inwardly in moving in a distal direction pasthooks 264, then will engage the hooks 264 to prevent movement of thepiston 236 in a proximal direction back toward support collar 214. Thus,when piston 236 is retracted, and when the plunger head has carried theneedle carrier 216, needle cartridge 218, and needle 220 back into theprotected position within barrel 212, the hooks 264 are latched onto theflange 260. Thereafter, the needle carrier 216 and plunger head areprevented from return movement. The plunger may also be broken off, withor without use of the hooks 264 system, for use as in the firstembodiment to fix the needle location.

The syringe 210 is delivered to the person who will use it either in theassembled configuration shown in FIG. 9, or in a similar configurationbut without a needle cartridge and needle mounted thereon. If thesyringe 210 is delivered in the assembled configuration shown in FIG. 9,the operator may proceed to use it as is, or he or she may choose toremove the needle cartridge and needle supplied with the particularsyringe and replace it with another needle cartridge and needle, forreasons set out above in connection with the description of the firstembodiment, for example. If the operator wishes to replace the needlecartridge and needle, he or she follows the same procedure set out abovein connection with the first embodiment. It should be noted again thatpreferably, during this removal and replacement procedure a lockingsafety cover 222 remains on the needle cartridge being removed and onthe needle cartridge being installed in its place.

If the syringe 210 were to be supplied with no needle cartridge 218installed thereon, the operator simply has to install a desired needlecartridge as set out above. In order to ensure that a syringe 210supplied without a needle cartridge is not contaminated prior to thetime a needle cartridge is installed, it is preferred that a lockingsafety cover 222 be installed on the hub 228 of mounting collar 214, asshown, for example, in FIG. 14, when the syringe 210 is manufactured soas to protectively enclose the barrel. Annular locking ridge or land 299of cover 222 will engage and seat in annular groove 298 around hub 228in order to positively retain cover 222 on hub 228.

During the time that a needle cartridge is either removed or installed,i.e., prior to use of the syringe, the retaining pin 294, if employed,remains in place in bores 290, 292 in order to prevent needle carrier216 from rotating in mounting collar 214. As stated above, frictionbumps 270, like bumps 86, also serve as anti-rotation means betweencollar 214 and needle carrier 216. When the desired needle cartridge isfully installed and in place in needle carrier 216, syringe 210 is readyfor use. Piston 236 is free to be moved by plunger 230 from belowpockets 262 to a position before the diaphragm 240, if present, isstretched or punctured (although this is not desirable without furthersealing), or otherwise before latch 238 is engaged into recess 250. Theoperator may then remove cover 222 from needle cartridge 218 and needle220, and proceed to either draw a liquid or fluid substance from acontainer through needle 220 into barrel 212 and inject it into asubject, or insert the needle 220 into a subject with barrel 212 emptyand withdraw blood or other fluids from the subject for depositing intoa container for testing or the like.

After the syringe 210 has been used, plunger member 230 is pushed firmlyin a proximal direction into engagement with needle carrier 216sufficiently to stretch or rupture the diaphragm 240, if present, andforce the latch 238 of piston 236 into recess 250 in needle carrier 216(FIG. 10) . Plunger 230 is then rotated in the appropriate directionuntil latch 238 engages latch stops 252, whereupon further rotation ofthe plunger head and latch against stops 252 will also rotate needlecarrier 216 when retainer pin 294 is removed from bores 290, 292.Engagement of latch 238 in recess 250 is shown, for example, in FIG. 10.Pin 294 is then removed from needle carrier 216 and hub 228, and theplunger 230 is rotated further in the appropriate direction to move lugs248 along threads 256 into register with slots 258. Since lugs 248 willinitially be relatively securely seated between friction rises 270 andthe ends of threads 256 prior to rotation of needle carrier 216,somewhat greater force will be necessary to rotate the lugs 248 over thefriction rises than will be required to continue rotating the lugs 248over the remainder of the threads 256 to slots 258.

The plunger head 234 is then pulled in a distal direction to pull needlecarrier 216, needle cartridge 218, and needle 220 into barrel 212 untillatch flange 260 has become latched to hooks 264 (FIG. 14). Plungermember 230 may also be provided with perforations in ribs 232 so thatthe distal portion of the plunger member may be broken off at theperforations and discarded, leaving the broken end of the plungersubstantially flush with the end of the barrel and the remainder of theplunger securely latched within the barrel 212. The needle cartridge 218and needle 220 are thus securely retained and immobilized in protectiveisolation within the barrel, as shown in FIG. 14. The protective cover222 may then be installed on the hub 228 of collar 214 as shown in FIG.14 in order to prevent excess fluids or residue remaining in the syringe210 from leaking out of the syringe. The used syringe may then be safelydiscarded without further danger of a needle stick injury.

Referring initially to FIG. 15, the preferred embodiment of theretractable syringe of the present invention is shown generally at 400.Syringe 400 includes a barrel 212, the proximal end of which comprises aneedle carrier support or mounting collar 214. The distal end of barrel212 includes a set of finger stops 413 having equally spaced grooves 415formed therein to prevent finger skid.

A needle carrier 216, more particularly described below and better shownin FIGS. 29-34, when assembled as in the other embodiments is mountedwithin needle carrier support or mounting collar 214. Needle carrier 216is adapted to support therewithin a needle cartridge 218 in which ismounted a hypodermic needle 220. An invertible locking safety cover 423,or alternatively 418, 420, or 422, is adapted at one end 224 (FIGS. 35,38, 39) to have a mechanism in the preferred embodiment 423 to befrictionally retained on the hub 428 of mounting collar 214 prior toinstallation of a needle cartridge 18 into needle carrier 216, oralternatively for covers 418, 210, 422 to be frictionally retained onneedle cartridge 218, covering needle 20, prior to use of syringe 400,and at the other end 226 to be positively locked to the hub 428 ofmounting collar 214 after use of syringe 400 and retraction of needle220 into barrel 212, as more particularly described below (FIG. 43).

An elongate plunger member 230 is telescoped into and carried within thebarrel 212 when assembled. Plunger member 230 includes a body portioncomprising a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs 232 (FIG. 24)and a thumb rest 234 (FIG. 22) formed at its distal end. Thumb rest 234includes grooves 427 to inhibit thumb slippage on thumb rest 234.

A retraction mechanism 421 (FIG. 25) is attached near the proximal endof plunger member 230, disposed within barrel 212 when assembled. Theproximal face of retraction mechanism 421 includes a longitudinallyextending retractor or stinger latch 238 at or near its center.

For retraction mechanism 421, stinger latch 238 is mounted on a mountingpost 430 which extends from retractor pedestal 432. Retractor pedestal432 is supported by mounting rim 434 seated on mounting base 436.Mounting base 436 terminates at flange 438. At the distal end of flange438 there is located a sheer intent 440.

Attached to the proximal end of retractor mechanism 421 there is mountedan injection piston 236 (FIGS. 27, 28), which is also disposed withinbarrel 212 when assembled. Injection piston 236 includes an entry port442. Proximal to entry port 442 is an expandable, distortable (FIG. 43),mounting collar 444 that distorts so that port 442 abuts to theretractor pedestal 432 with the entry port 442 contacting the retractorpedestal 432 when assembled after the stinger latch 238 has passedthrough entry port 442 to disengage needle carrier 216 from mountingcollar 214 as discussed below (FIG. 43). At the proximal end of mountingcollar 444 is located the leading edge or proximal end 446 of injectionpiston 236 which includes an outer thick membrane portion 448 and aninterior thin membrane portion 450, forming an interior detent 452because of the differences in thickness. Detent 452 is sized to receivestinger latch 238 therein. Injection piston 236 is typically made of thesame materials as set out above, having a rubber durometer of forty.Thus membrane 450 is expandable as impinged upon by stinger latch 238and should not rupture under the action described below. Thus injectionpiston 236 maintains a liquid seal between the plunger 230 and theinterior wall of barrel 212 during all stages of motion of the plunger230 within the barrel 212.

Plunger 230 and barrel 212 may be made of a relatively hard materialsuch as, for example, high density polypropylene or other suitablesynthetic material. Barrel 212 may also be made of a relativelyresilient material such as polyethylene or polypropylene, for example.The same material used for barrel 212 may also be employed forprotective cover or sheath 418, 420, 422. All materials should be of agrade and quality suitable for human medical applications.

Piston 236 is usually of slightly larger diameter than the insidediameter of barrel 212 so that in service, the barrel telescopicallyreceives the piston 236 as the piston traverses the barrel with thepiston 236 deforming to stay in sealing relationship therewith. Piston236 is sized and shaped to serve as a liquid or fluid displacement meanswithin barrel 212 for withdrawing a liquid or fluid substance fromanother container, for example, and subsequently injecting the substancethrough needle 220 into a subject being treated. Of course, syringe 400may be used for withdrawing liquid or fluid substances from a subjectfor subsequent testing, or for other purposes. In short, the retractablesyringe 400 of the present invention may be used in any clinicalsetting, under any medical conditions.

Referring now to FIGS. 29-34, 42 and 43, needle carrier 216 is mountedwithin mounting collar 214 of barrel 212 from within the barrel, andneedle cartridge 218 is subsequently mounted to the proximal end ofneedle carrier 216 from outside barrel 212. Needle carrier 216 has agenerally circular conical main body 240 with a slight taper from itsdistal end 242 to its proximal end 244 to be contained in mountingcollar 214 which is similarly tapered. A radially outwardly extendingcircumferential flange 246 is disposed around body 240 at its distal end242. The distal surface 450 of flange 246 is slanted toward its centerto facilitate insertion of the piston 236 therein and to continue thefluid path past surface 452 to channel 454. A plurality of radiallyoutwardly extending bayonet lugs 248 are disposed on the exterior sidewall of body 240 between flange 246 and proximal end 244. Preferably,there are two such lugs 248 which are diametrically opposed from oneanother. A latch recess 250 extends into body 240 of needle carrier 216from its distal end 242. Latch recess 250 is shaped correlatively tostinger latch 238, as is more fully set out below.

A substantially annular blind bore or pocket 451, comprising a needlecartridge receiving pocket, extends longitudinally part way, preferablyabout half way, through main body 240 from its proximal end 244. In thecenter of pocket 451 there is disposed a needle cartridge support member54, which may be integral, for example, with main body 240. Needlecartridge support member 54 extends from the distal end wall 456 ofpocket 451 beyond the plane of the proximal end face 244 of main body240, such that a substantial proximal end portion of member 54 protrudesout of the main body 240. As discussed above, needle cartridge supportmember 54 is substantially circular conical in configuration, and tapersslightly from its distal end at end wall 456 to its proximal end 60.This provides a pressure friction fit to receive the interior of needlecartridge 218. Needle cartridge support member 54 has a longitudinallyextending central axial bore 62 therein, in fluid communication withlatch recess 250 by channel 454.

Pocket 451 has a pair of relatively steeply pitched, raised, that is,radially inwardly projecting, axially spaced apart ribs 464 around itsouter wall, forming a pair of lands upon which a corresponding pair oftabs disposed on the distal end of the needle cartridge 218 ride inremoving or installing the needle cartridge, as is more fully set outbelow. The ribs 464 begin, or intersect, the proximal end face of mainbody 240, on diametrically opposed sides thereof as is best shown inFIG. 31. These ribs form what is commonly referred to as a lure lockthread.

Mounting collar 214 includes a hub portion 428 extending from theproximal end 470 thereof to a relatively thick-walled needle carrierretaining portion 472 of barrel 212, forming an annular shoulder 474therebetween. The hub portion 428 and needle carrier retaining portion472 of barrel 212 have a substantially circular conical bore 476therethrough, shaped correlatively to the outer profile of main body 240of needle carrier 216. Between the upper or distal end of bore 276 inneedle carrier retaining portion 472 and the interior wall 478 of barrel212 against which piston 236 is sealingly engaged, is disposed acircular counterbore 480. Flange 246 of needle carrier 216 is receivedin counterbore 480 when the needle carrier 216 is locked in place inmounting collar 214. Flange 246 is somewhat resilient, so that it willsealingly engage counterbore 480 when carrier 216 is locked into placein collar 214.

Mounting collar 214 has a pair of diametrically opposed, substantiallylongitudinally extending slots 482 in the wall of bore 476, extending ina proximal direction from the interface between bore 476 and counterbore480. Slots 482 intersect and communicate with a pair of inclinedrecesses or threads 484 in the wall of bore 476 which extend part way,for example 900 or less, around the inside wall of bore 476 and areinclined toward the proximal end 470 of hub portion 428. Threads 484 asshown are right-hand threads, but left-hand threads could be used, asdesired. Threads 484, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 11 even though themounting collar 214 is the same numbered item in both, does not have afriction rise or bump on their proximal surfaces near their blind ends.Slots 482 are adapted to receive bayonet lugs 248 on needle carrier 216,and when the needle carrier is so inserted into collar 214 and rotatedin the proper direction, preferably 900 or less, lugs 248 traverse thebuttresses of threads 484 until they bottom out at the blind ends of thethreads. Due to the inclined nature of threads 484, rotation of theneedle carrier to the right (for a right-hand thread 484) will tend todraw the needle carrier 216 more tightly into the mounting collar 214,and will tend to energize the seal between flange 246 and counterbore480.

Unlike the embodiment of FIG. 11, no additional force is required topass the lugs 248 along threads 484 for there are no friction rises orbumps in either direction. Accordingly, when the lugs 248 are fullyseated in the blind ends of threads 484, they are bounded only on oneside by the blind end walls of the threads 484, but the lugs 248 willstill be relatively securely seated in the blind ends of threads 484,and the needle carrier 216 will in turn be relatively securely latchedinto the mounting collar 214. Bumps are not necessary, however, becausesufficient frictional forces exist between needle carrier 216 andmounting collar 214 to prevent relative rotation between them duringinstallation and/or removal of a needle cartridge as discussed furtherbelow.

FIG. 42 illustrates the needle carrier 216 fully seated and latched intocollar 214. Such installation and latching occurs within barrel 212 asthe syringe 400 is being assembled prior to use. FIG. 42 shows theneedle carrier 216 in the same position depicted in FIG. 3, but themounting collar 214 has been rotated, preferably, as stated above, 90°or less. It should be understood that a retaining pin, and correspondingbores, may not be necessary because sufficient frictional forces existbetween needle carrier 216 and mounting collar 214 to prevent relativerotation of such members during installation and/or removal of a needlecartridge.

Mounting collar 214 further includes a circumferentially extendingextension groove 498 around the periphery of hub portion 428 (unlikegroove 298 in the other like numbered collar 214 of FIG. 11) and adaptedto receive a correlatively shaped ridge or land 500 disposed on lockingsafety cover 423, or alternatively 418, 420, 422, as more fullydescribed hereinafter.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 10, 42 and 43, the needle cartridge218 of the present invention is shown in more detail. Needle cartridge218 includes an elongate, generally conical, hollow main body 502 whichtapers slightly from its upper or distal end 504 to its lower orproximal end 506. Main body 502 of needle cartridge 218 has a tapered,longitudinally extending, central axial bore 508 which has a tapersubstantially the same as the taper of the outside surf ace of needlecartridge support member 54, so as to form a close fit therewith wheninstalled on syringe 400. Bore 508 is in fluid communication with bore454 in needle cartridge support member 54. Needle cartridge 218 may alsoinclude a substantially circular cylindrical extension portion extendingin a proximal direction from proximal end 506 of main body 502 as in theother embodiments. A plurality of substantially longitudinally extendingstiffening ribs may be disposed on main body 502 and the extensionportion along their outer sides. If this is so, there would bepreferably four (4) such ribs disposed at substantially 90° to oneanother. If there is a cylindrical extension of needle cartridge 218 itwould have a central axial bore therethrough, which is in fluidcommunication with bore 508 of main body 502. A hypodermic needle 220 ofselected size and shape is mounted within the central axial bore and ifthere is a cylindrical extension, in the cylindrical extension. Needle220 has a longitudinally extending bore therethrough of selecteddiameter, which bore is in fluid communication with bore 508 and, hence,bore 454 in needle cartridge support member 54.

The upper or distal end 504 of needle cartridge 218 includes a pair ofdiametrically opposed, outwardly extending tabs or ears 514 (FIG. 42).When the distal end 504 of needle cartridge 218 is insertedlongitudinally axially into needle carrier 216 from the proximal endthereof and rotated to the right (f or a right-hand thread 464 to theleft for a left-hand thread), each of tabs 514 engages and travels alongone of the helical threads 464, which draws needle cartridge 218 ontoneedle cartridge support member 54 and forces the needle cartridge intosecure, stable, sealed relationship with the needle cartridge supportmember. The tight frictional engagement of tabs 514 against the walls ofpocket 52 provides additional lateral stability and support for needlecartridge 218 when mounted in needle carrier 216. In order to removeneedle cartridge 218 from needle carrier 216, for example, to replace itwith a different shaped or sized needle, as desired, the needlecartridge is rotated to the left (for a right-hand thread 464; to theright for a left-hand thread), and tabs 514 travel along threads 464until they are released therefrom at or near proximal end 244 of mainbody 240. It should be understood, however, that depending upon whetherthreads 464, 484 are righthand, left-hand or one of each, either theremoval of needle cartridge 218 onto needle carrier 216, will tend torotate the members 214, 216 with respect to one another in a directionso as to further engage lugs 248 into threads 484.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 23, 25 and 26, stinger latch 238 ofplunger 230 has a main body 239 of generally conical configuration witha retaining lip 516 around its upper periphery. Stinger latch 238 alsoincludes a pair of rotational lugs 518 extending longitudinally axiallyfrom below lip 516 to the proximal end or apex of main body 239.Rotational lugs 518 are disposed on diametrically opposed sides ofstinger latch 238. Stinger latch 238 is adapted to stretch an innershoulder 442 of the resilient flange or piston 236 and to descend intorecess 250 formed in the distal end of needle carrier 216 when plunger230 is advanced to the proximal end of its stroke. Stinger latch 238 isthus stabbed into engagement with a tapered latch seat 452 in recess250. Recess 250 has correlatively shaped grooves 453 extendinglongitudinally axially on opposite sides of latch seat 452 for receivingrotational lugs 518. When stinger latch 238 is pushed into the recess250 of needle carrier 216 in substantially random angular orientationwith respect thereto, latch 238 may be rotated slightly one way or theother in order to bring lugs 518 into engagement with latch seat 452 andthus grooves 453 of recess 250. When lugs 518 have so engaged grooves453, further rotation of plunger member 230 will rotate piston 436,stinger latch 238, needle carrier 216, needle cartridge 218, and needle220.

Rotation of the plunger member 230 and injection piston 436 in theappropriate direction which rotates the needle carrier 216 and its lugs248 along the threads 484 until the lugs are in alignment with slots482, whereupon withdrawal of the plunger 230 back into the barrel 212also withdraws the needle carrier 216, needle cartridge 218, and needle220 as a unit back into the barrel 212, eliminating the possibility of aneedle stick injury.

The upper or distal end of barrel 212 has an annular area or land 530 ofreduced inside diameter and with sloping distal end 531 and verticalproximal end 533. An annular latching groove 532 is formed at theproximal end of land 530, adjacent to an annular latching rib 534disposed proximally of latching groove 532. The latching groove 532 isof about the same inside diameter as the inner diameter of barrel 212below land 530. Like land 530, the annular latching rib 534 has aninside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of barrel 212 belowland 530; the inside diameter of rib 534 may, for example, be smallerthan land 530. When plunger 230 is withdrawn into barrel 212 in order toretract needle 220 into the barrel, and as the piston 236 is pulledagainst the rib 534, the rib wall is slanted to permit the rounded edgeof the piston 236 to pass over it into seated position in latchinggroove 532. Since the thickness of rib 534 is greater than that of thewall of barrel 212 below the rib, considerably greater force is requiredto force the rib outwardly. Accordingly, somewhat greater force isrequired to pull the piston 236 over the rib 534 than is required towithdraw the plunger 230 through the barrel. Once seated in latchinggroove 532, piston 236 is substantially resistant to movement in eitherdirection. Although it is preferred to provide rib 534 and groove 532 tohold piston 236 in retracted position within barrel 212, the rib andgroove may be omitted, and the frictional force to overcome the surface533 may be relied upon instead to hold the piston in place. Further, allof the rib, groove, and land may be omitted, because with the breakingoff of the plunger 230, infra, the friction of the barrel against thepiston 236 may be sufficient to latch the needle in retracted positionin the barrel.

Plunger member 230 is provided with shear indent 440 in ribs 232 at alocation such as to be substantially flush with the distal end of barrel212 when piston 236 is seated in groove 532. Lateral force may then beapplied to the distal end of plunger 230 to break off the plunger at theshear indent 440, leaving the remainder of the plunger disposed insidebarrel 212 with its distal end substantially flush with the distal endof the barrel 212.

The syringe 400 is delivered to the person who will use it either in theassembled configuration shown in FIG. 42, or in a similar to theconfiguration shown in FIG. 42. The operator may proceed to use it asis, or he or she may choose to remove the needle cartridge and needlesupplied with the particular syringe and replace it with another needlecartridge and needle. Such a situation might arise, for example, if theoperator wishes to use a needle of a different shape, such as longer orshorter, or of a different size, such as with a larger or smallerdiameter and/or bore. If the operator wishes to replace the needlecartridge and needle, he or she grasps the needle cartridge firmlyaround the main body 502 and rotates it in the appropriate direction tounscrew the cartridge 218 from the needle carrier pocket 451.Preferably, during this removal and replacement procedure a lockingsafety cover such as alternative embodiments 419, 420, 422 or thecarrier supplied with the needle cartridges 218 remains on the needlecartridge being removed and on the needle cartridge being installed inits place. Locking safety covers at this stage of the procedure willhave their longer ends 224 frictionally retained around the proximalends of main bodies 502 of needle cartridges 218, with needles 220 beingsafely received in tapered blind bores 538 of the covers (FIGS. 35, 38,39). After removing the supplied needle cartridge, the operator theninstalls the desired needle cartridge by grasping it firmly, preferablywith its cover in place, inserting its distal end into pocket 451, androtating it in the appropriate direction to screw it securely into placeas shown, for example, in FIG. 42, so that it is integral.

Should the operator wish to prefill the barrel with a dosage and thus noneedle cartridge is initially provided, an alternate cap 600 may be used(FIG. 44). Such a cap has flanges 610 corresponding to the lure lockthread formed by ribs 464. An internal cylindrical body 615 extends fromend 620 and is dimensionsed to extend such that as the flanges 610 moveinto the lure lock thread of ribs 464, the end 625 of body 615 sealinglyabuts the end 60 of member 54.

If the syringe 400 were to be supplied with no needle cartridge 218installed thereon, as is preferable, the operator simply has to installa desired needle cartridge as set out above so that it is integral. Inorder to ensure that a syringe 400 supplied without a needle cartridgeis not contaminated prior to the time a needle cartridge is installed,it is preferred that a locking safety cover 423 be installed on the hub428 of the mounting collar 214, as shown, for example, in FIG. 40, whenthe syringe 400 is manufactured so as to protectively enclose thebarrel. For this purpose the larger end 226 of cover 423 is providedwith an axially extending blind bore 540 of a shape correlative to thatof hub 428 and a diameter slightly smaller than the outside diameter ofthe hub, so that when the cover is forced over the hub, the cover willstretch slightly and sealingly engage the hub. As shown in the alternateembodiments of FIGS. 35, 38 and 39, annular locking ridge or land 500 ofcover 418, 420, 422 will engage and seat in annular groove formed on thedistal side of protrusion 498 around hub 428 in order to positivelyretain cover 418, 420, 422 on hub 428. Otherwise friction as in thepreferred embodiment of FIG. 40 will hold the cover 423 on hub 428. Afluid barrier 542 between blind bore 540 and bore 538 of any of thecovers prevents fluid communication between the bores.

When the desired needle cartridge is fully installed and in place inneedle carrier 216, syringe 400 is ready for use. Piston 436 is free tobe moved by plunger 230 from below rib 534 to a position just short oflatching engagement between stinger latch 238 and needle carrier 216.The operator may then remove the needle cover from needle cartridge 218and needle 220, and proceed to either draw a liquid or fluid substancefrom a container through needle 220 into barrel 212 and inject it into asubject, or insert the needle 220 into a subject with barrel 212 emptyand withdraw blood or other fluids from the subject for depositing intoa container for testing or the like. As discussed above, if the barrel212 is prefilled, when the needle carrier 216 is attached, syringe 400is ready for use.

After the syringe 400 has been used, plunger member 230 is pushed firmlyin a proximal direction until stinger 238 is forced into recess 450 inneedle carrier 216, and the plunger is rotated slightly one way or theother, if necessary, so that lugs 518 of stinger 238 seat in grooves 524of recess 450. Engagement of stinger 238 in recess 450 is shown, forexample, in FIG. 43. The plunger 30 is then rotated in the appropriatedirection to move lugs 248 along threads 484 into register with slots482.

The plunger head 434 is then pulled in a distal direction to pull needlecarrier 216, needle cartridge 218, and needle 220 into barrel 212 untilpiston 236 travels over rib 534 and seats in groove 532. When or notgroove 532 is used, the distal portion of the plunger member 230 isbroken off at shear indent 440 and discarded, leaving the broken end ofthe plunger substantially f lush with the end of the barrel and ifgroove 532 is used, the remainder of the plunger securely latched withinthe barrel 212. The needle cartridge 218 and needle 220 are thussecurely retained and immobilized in protective isolation within thebarrel, as shown in FIG. 43. The protective cover 423 may then beinstalled on the hub 428 of collar 214 in order to prevent excess fluidsor residue remaining in the syringe 400 from leaking out of the syringe.The used syringe may then be safely discarded without further danger ofa needle stick injury.

As best seen in FIG. 45, threads 484 do not require slots 482. Frictionbump 270 is supplied in thread 484. In addition, a lip 650 is located atthe proximal end of mounting collar 214. This will further restrain theproximal end of needle holder 216 as lugs 248 are inserted in threads484.

As seen in FIG. 46, another embodiment of the cap 656 is shown. This capis similar to the cap of FIG. 40, except it does not have the end 224.

As shown in FIG. 47, needle holder 660 is substantially identical to theneedle holder 216, except for certain lugs as discussed below. Insteadof lugs 248 as shown in FIG. 31, needle holder 660 is supplied withincline threads 665 and with extensions 670 on the same portion ofneedle holder 660 as threads 665. Extensions 670 have shoulders 675.Corresponding to needle holder 660, a modified mounting collar 214 asshown in FIG. 48. Mounting collar 214 is shown in FIG. 48. Mountingcollar 214 as shown in FIG. 48 includes slots 700 on opposite sides ofmounting collar 214, and bottom threads 710 disposed at a 90° anglelaterally around mounting collar 214. In addition, shoulder 720 isprovided in the interior of barrel 212 spaced apart approximately thedistance that should 675 is spaced apart from threads 665. Thus, asthreads 665 are inserted into slots 700 and needle holder 660 isrotated, threads 665 ride up threads 710 in frictional engagement untilshoulders 675 engaged shoulder 720. Lip 650 supplies additionalcontainment, thereby making a secure engagement of the threads 665, 710.

As shown in FIG. 49, a modified piston or seal 236 has an elongatedindent 800, as well as section 450 being more elongated, eliminatedsection 448. This permits rotation of section 450 opposite to that ofthe piston 236 shown in FIG. 28, which only has an internal indentation444.

While preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention have beenshown and described, many modifications thereof may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined in accordancewith the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mounting mechanism for attaching a hypodermicneedle cartridge to a retractable syringe, said syringe including abarrel having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of thebarrel telescopingly receiving a piston plunger therewithin,comprising:a mounting collar located at the proximal end of the barrelwith a bore having a wall; a needle carrier including a body having aproximal end and a distal end; means disposed on said body andengageable in contact with an interior portion of the mounting collarfor releasably latching said body in the wall of the mounting collarbore, said distal end of said body having means engageable with thepiston plunger for retracting said body into the barrel; and needlecartridge attachment means disposed on said proximal end of said bodyfor releasably attaching the hypodermic needle cartridge thereto. 2.Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said needle cartridge attachmentmeans includes means for threadingly engaging the hypodermic needlecartridge in sealed relation thereto.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2,wherein the hypodermic needle cartridge includes a cartridge body havinga proximal end and a distal end and an axially extending boretherethrough, the proximal end of the cartridge body having a hypodermicneedle mounted therein, the distal end of the cartridge body having aplurality of mounting tabs spaced apart thereon, and wherein said needlecartridge attachment means comprises an annular pocket having an outerwall and a pair of axially spaced apart helical threads in said outerwall for threadingly receiving the mounting tabs of the needle cartridgebody, and a needle cartridge support member disposed substantially inthe center of said pocket, said needle cartridge support member beingadapted to sealingly engage the bore of the needle cartridge body whenthe needle cartridge body is threaded into said pocket.
 4. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, and further including means for retarding theunlatching of said body from the mounting collar during the installationor removal of the hypodermic needle cartridge from said needle cartridgeattachment means.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said meansfor retarding the unlatching of said body from the mounting collarincludes a retaining pin disposed in aligned transverse bores in saidbody and the mounting collar when said body is fully latched in themounting collar.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there isfurther included means for retarding the unlatching of said body fromsaid mounting collar.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein saidmeans for retarding the unlatching includes a friction bump.